Funny how things change over time, not funny HA HA but more in a amuzing curious way. The landscape has changed dramatically, the Internet has given us a new kind of freedom but not unlike Moses crying ” Let My People Go”! There has never been anything quite as liberating as the Internet, where else can you actually have true freedom of speech, the Internet that’s where. You can go anywhere you want for the most part and get information you could never get before. The Internet has allowed the Good, The Bad & The Ugly to flourish, it has also made it possible for you to consider the End of your Job.
On September 19th, 1994 Fortune Magazine released a William Bridges article called, ” The End Of The Job”. It was in the October edition. He was ahead of his time sort of, there’s no way he could see what is happening with a thing called Social Media today. And I quote from the heading of his article:
” THE END OF THE JOB As a way of organizing work, it is a social artifact that has outlived its usefullness. Its demise confronts everyone with unfamiliar risks – and rich opportunities”.
He could never have known how partly right he was back then 15 years ago. But he was also very, very wrong, technology (computers) didn’t save us time at all, they merely made it possible to get more done in a day. Hence, we work longer hours and we try to increase productivity or results, but have we? I’m not certain we are that much better off, we still don’t have the lifestyle he claimed back then, so what happened?
One thing technology or the Internet has done, it gave us a platform to truly see the end of the job come to fruition. The rules of success haven’t changed, you still have to work hard and invest the time to see the results you envisioned, and the lifestyle you dream of. But do we really stop working a job, or do we just trade one work for another? Is it possible to truly do nothing and feel fulfilled, actually know you contributed, were useful, and felt utilized by something meaningful. Social Media environments have opened the door for all of us to make a difference and have a voice. You may even be able to change what the end of the job means to you.
I shared this article back in 2002 to a large crowd and they thought I was nuts, so I directed them just like I’m directing you now…go read the article and form your own opinion, what does the article say to you?
Here’s the link: THE END OF THE JOB
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I don’t think it is possible to do nothing and feel fulfilled. Sure you can not be doing traditional ‘work’ and feel fulfilled but doing nothing at all…it’s just not possible.
I think it is possible for a time but then one will start looking again for a purpose. You might find that in your family and and spend time with kids, parents, cousins inputting into their lives. You might find it with community groups, again adding your value into other people. You might find it in thousands of different ways but you need to find it to be happy.
Hi Curtis,
I think everyone should look for work that is meaningful, at least then there’s a chance of doing the right things right and contributing to society in a healthy way. Thanks for your input.